Abstract
Davis Young's 1988 article, "The Contemporary Relevance of Augustine's View of Creation," contributed to the debate over the interpretation of the days of creation in Genesis 1 by drawing on Augustine's most significant work on this biblical text, The Literal Meaning of Genesis. The task left undone at that time was to more fully explore the basic interpretive approach of Augustine as a way of providing a context for his specific outcomes. This article confirms that Augustine is a figure worth studying among church thinkers, surveys his position on the days of creation, then attempts to more carefully analyze the interpretive factors that drove Augustine to his conclusions. Six categories of factors are identified: exegetical constraints, theological factors, pastoral concern, apologetic motives, philosophical influences and operating presuppositions. Without grasping these various influences on his interpretation, Augustine's conclusions may be cited for and against modern interpretive positions with little real understanding of his reasoning or its validity. Augustine's thinking, once understood, is indeed relevant for contemporary study of creation in Genesis. It prompts us to consider the influence of world view presuppositions on our own interpretation, encourages us to notice and be deliberate about the role of our theological framework in our interpretation, heightens our awareness of the apologetic ramifications of our positions, assists our reconciliation of knowledge from biblical and natural sources, and reminds us of the ultimately pastoral purpose of biblical interpretation.